U.S. patent application number 11/437214 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for multiple function animal bed.
Invention is credited to Dan Dietz.
Application Number | 20060260549 11/437214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37308317 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060260549 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dietz; Dan |
November 23, 2006 |
Multiple function animal bed
Abstract
An animal furniture bed having one side open to allow for
storing of objects in an area of the bed below the sleeping
surface. The bottom of that open side has a lip element that
extends the complete length of that side to prevent objects from
rolling out of the furniture bed. Lips can also extend upward from
each side to create an area in which to place a sleeping pad for an
animal. The pad serves as the animal bed.
Inventors: |
Dietz; Dan; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUMEY, L.L.P.
P.O. BOX 22188
HOUSTON
TX
77227-2188
US
|
Family ID: |
37308317 |
Appl. No.: |
11/437214 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11121797 |
May 4, 2005 |
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11437214 |
May 19, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/28.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 1/0353 20130101;
A01K 1/033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/028.5 |
International
Class: |
A01K 1/035 20060101
A01K001/035 |
Claims
1. An animal furniture bed, comprising: a top side; a front side,
wherein the front side comprises an opening; and first and second
sides and a back side, wherein the first and second sides and back
side comprise a plurality of openings.
2. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the bed further
comprises a lip element disposed at a bottom side of the front
side.
3. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the first and
second sides are secured to the top and front sides, and further
wherein a storage area is disposed in an interior of the bed.
4. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the top side
comprises a lip.
5. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, further comprising a mat
material disposed on the top side.
6. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the front side
comprises a convex shape.
7. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the first and
second sides and back side comprise wire, mesh, netting, weaving,
or combinations thereof.
8. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the first and
second sides and back side comprise wire or wire-like material.
9. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, further comprising an outer
covering disposed on an outer surface of the first side, second
side, back side, or combinations thereof.
10. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, further comprising an
outer covering disposed on each of the first and second sides and
back sides.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/121,797 filed on May 4, 2005, which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates to an animal bed and in particular to
a multiple function animal bed, which also serves as a storage
location for objects, related to the animal, as a bench for humans
and as an animal step for getting into a human bed.
[0005] 2. Background of the Invention
[0006] There have been many types of animal beds. These beds come
in various designs. Some of the designs include beds shaped as
different types of animals. Many beds in the form of animal designs
are made of a cushion material to facilitate animal comfort.
[0007] One animal bed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,065
describes an animal bed that includes an annular bed frame defining
an interior chamber. A perforated top wall is supported at its
periphery by the bed frame to receive and support the animal above
the chamber. The perforated top wall is composed of a non-woven
fabric material to provide a hammock like suspension for the animal
and to permit small insects to fall through the top wall. The
chamber is dimensioned to provide a space below the top wall
sufficient to inhibit the insects from traveling upwardly through
the top wall. An insect exterminating composition contained within
the chamber receives the falling insects and destroys them.
[0008] U.S. Pat. d 288,970 describes a combined animal bed and
housing unit. This design has a bed mat resting on a storage unit.
The bed also has a canopy covering the mat. The animal would rest
on the mat and would be covered by the canopy.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
multiple purpose animal bed.
[0010] It is a second objective of the present invention to provide
an animal bed with a storage area below the location where the
animal rests.
[0011] It is a third objective of the present invention to provide
a multiple purpose animal bed that can be used as a rest bench for
humans.
[0012] It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide
a multiple purpose animal bed that can be used as a step for
animals to jump to a higher human bed.
[0013] The present invention comprises a furniture bed having a
shape that can be for example a square or rectangular shape design
with four sides, a top surface and an optional bottom surface. One
of the sides is open to allow for storing objects in the present
invention. Doors can be included on the furniture bed as an option.
The bottom of that open side has a lip element that extends the
complete length of that side to prevent objects from rolling out of
the furniture bed. Lips can also extend upward from each side to
create an area in which to place a sleeping pad for an animal. The
pad serves as the animal bed. The material for the animal bed
element can be of any conventional material that is used in animal
beds. The remaining walls of the furniture bed may be of any
suitable composition and configuration suitable for use in the bed.
In some instances, the multiple function animal bed may be
positioned adjacent a human bed enabling humans to use the bed as a
rest bench or as a step to enable animals to get into the human
bed.
[0014] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims
of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may
be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other
structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the multiple function
animal furniture bed;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the multiple function
animal furniture bed;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the multiple function
animal furniture bed adjacent a human bed;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the multiple function
animal furniture bed adjacent a human bed; and
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an alternate embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is the front view of the multiple
function animal furniture bed 10. The multiple function animal
furniture bed 10 may have a generally rectangular shape,
alternatively the multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may
have any other shape suitable for a desired use. Sides 11 and 12
form the two ends of the multiple function animal furniture bed 10.
Side 13 is the front and open side of the multiple function animal
furniture bed 10. The back side, not shown, is a side similar to
sides 11 and 12. The back side may also have similar dimensions as
the front side 13. In alternative embodiments, the backside has
different dimensions than the front side 13. The multiple function
animal furniture bed 10 has a top side 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. The top side 14 supports the mat material 15 on which the animal
may lay. This mat material 15 may be of any composition suitable
for use with the multiple function animal furniture bed 10. For
instance, the mat material 15 may be a cushion, a padded material,
and the like. In some embodiments, the top side 14 may be moveable
(e.g., the top side 14 may be lifted up). As shown, the top side 14
may have tapered corners 14'. The multiple function animal
furniture bed 10 may have an optional bottom side or floor (not
illustrated).
[0022] Multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may be composed of
any material suitable for the uses of multiple function animal
furniture bed 10. For instance, multiple function animal furniture
bed 10 may be composed of wood, mesh, wire, plastic, metal, and the
like. In an embodiment, multiple function animal furniture 10
includes sides (e.g., sides 11, 12, 13, 14, and back side) composed
of a plurality of openings. The openings may be of any desired
shape and configuration. Such sides composed of a plurality of
openings may comprise wire, mesh, netting, weaving, and the like,
preferably wire or mesh, and more preferably wire or wire-like
material. Moreover, such sides may be composed of any porous
material suitable for use as a side in an animal cage (e.g., porous
metal or plastic siding). In an embodiment, such sides are composed
of a plastic, wood, or metal wire or wire-like material. One or
more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may be
composed of such materials. In an embodiment (not illustrated), an
outer covering may be disposed on the outside and/or inside surface
of one or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10,
preferably an outer covering is disposed on the outside of one or
more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10. In some
embodiments, an outer covering is disposed on the outside of sides
11, 12. The outer covering may cover any desired portion of a side.
The outer covering may comprise any suitable covering for use with
animals. For instance, the outer covering may be composed of
natural or synthetic woods, veneers, vinyl, wicker, plastic,
ceramic, and the like. In alternative embodiments, at least one of
the sides comprises a substantially solid material.
[0023] A lip element 16 is positioned at the bottom of the open
front side 13. This lip 16 extends the length of the front side 13.
In alternative embodiments, lip 16 extends a portion of the length
of front side 13. Without being limited by theory, lip 16 may
prevent objects from rolling out of the storage area of the
multiple function animal furniture bed 10. For instance, many
objects and toys for animals have rounded shapes and have a
tendency to roll. This lip 16 may serve as a stop to prevent the
objects from rolling out of the storage area (e.g., interior of
multiple function animal furniture bed 10). In addition, sides 11
and 12 may have lips 17 and 18 that extend upward from these sides
beyond the top side of the bed. Similar extensions may also extend
from the front side 13 and back side in the same manner as the
extensions 17 and 18. Without being limited by theory, these
extensions create an area in which to place the mat material 15.
For instance, some mats have the tendency to slide in response to
the weight of an animal. These extensions may serve to help hold
the mat in place. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated),
multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may comprise no such lips
or may comprise only a portion of such lips.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the multiple function animal furniture bed 10
positioned adjacent a human bed 20. Positioning the multiple
function animal furniture bed 10 at the foot 40 of the human bed 20
may provide a step for an animal/pet to get into human bed 20. For
instance, many people have pets that sleep in the bedroom. In
addition, this multiple function animal furniture bed 10 has the
strength to serve as a bench for humans to use as well.
[0025] FIG. 4 gives a side view of the multiple function animal
furniture bed 10. Shown is a human bed 20 with a mattress 22. By
the animal climbing onto the top side 14 and mat material 15 of the
multiple function animal furniture bed 10, the animal may have
sufficient elevation to move into the human bed 20.
[0026] The multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may have
various dimensions. In addition, the lip extensions (e.g., 16, 17,
18) may also have various dimensions. For example, the lip
extension 16 may not have the same dimensions as lip extensions 17
and 18. In a preferred embodiment, all lip extensions may be two to
three inches in height.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment in which
only the side 23 adjacent the human bed 20 has a substantially
straight design. The other portion of the bed may have a curved or
convex shape as shown. The other previously described features
would be the same as in the other embodiments (e.g., these features
include an opening in the front side 13 and a lip extension 16 at
the bottom).
[0028] In addition to the lip extensions 17 and 18 on the top side
14, other attaching means may be used to secure the mat material 15
to the top of the multiple function animal furniture bed 10.
Without limitation, these means may include straps attached to the
multiple function animal furniture bed 10 that may restrain the mat
material 15. Another means is an attaching or adhesive material
such as VELCRO, which is commercially available from Velcro
Industries B.V. Ltd. Liability Co. This material may be attached to
a skirt that may be attached to the mat material 15.
[0029] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
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